Indiana calculates child support using the Income Shares Model, which determines how much is child support in Indiana by combining both parents' weekly adjusted gross incomes and applying a percentage based on the number of children. For parents with a combined weekly income of $1,800 supporting one child, the basic weekly support obligation is approximately $312 under the January 2024 guidelines. The noncustodial parent's share depends on their percentage of the total combined income, with adjustments for health insurance, childcare costs, and parenting time credits starting at 52 overnights per year.
Key Facts: Indiana Child Support
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Calculation Model | Income Shares Model (both parents' incomes) |
| Guideline Effective Date | January 1, 2024 (most recent update) |
| Minimum Combined Income | $590/week ($30,680 annual) for schedule to apply |
| Maximum Schedule Income | $9,200/week (percentages apply above) |
| Parenting Time Credit Threshold | 52 overnights/year (approximately 14%) |
| Support Duration | Until child turns 19 (or incapacity/college) |
| Maximum Wage Garnishment | 50-60% of disposable income |
| Filing Fee Range | $157-$177 depending on county |
How Indiana Calculates Child Support Amounts
Indiana determines child support amounts by adding both parents' weekly adjusted gross incomes together, then applying the support schedule based on the number of children to find the total basic obligation. Under IC 31-16-6-1, the court considers each parent's financial resources, the child's standard of living, physical or mental condition, educational needs, and the noncustodial parent's ability to pay. The parent with the higher income typically pays the larger share, calculated as a percentage of the combined total.
The Indiana Child Support Guidelines, adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court and updated effective January 1, 2024, use the Rothbarth economic model to estimate what parents would have spent on their children in an intact household. This approach ensures children receive the same proportion of parental income they would have enjoyed if their parents remained together.
Weekly Support Schedule Examples
The following table shows sample basic weekly child support obligations based on combined parental income:
| Combined Weekly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $700/week | $227 | $330 | $385 | $420 |
| $1,190/week | $312 | $454 | $529 | $578 |
| $1,800/week | $312 | $518-$548 | $603 | $659 |
| $2,500/week | $390 | $567 | $660 | $721 |
| Above $9,200/week | 11.4% (2 children) | — | — | — |
These amounts represent the total basic obligation before adding healthcare costs, childcare expenses, or applying parenting time credits. When combined weekly adjusted income exceeds $9,200, Indiana applies set percentages rather than table values.
The Income Shares Model Calculation Process
Indiana's five-step calculation process determines the child support amount each parent owes by combining incomes, finding the basic obligation, adding expenses, and calculating proportionate shares. The Indiana Judicial Branch provides a free online calculator at in.gov/courts/services/child-support-calculator that generates court-ready Child Support Obligation Worksheets accepted by all 92 Indiana county courts.
Step 1: Calculate Weekly Adjusted Gross Income
Gross income includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, royalties, dividends, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, pension payments, and imputed income for voluntarily unemployed parents. Deductions include mandatory retirement contributions, union dues, and support obligations for other children.
Step 2: Determine Each Parent's Income Percentage
Add both parents' weekly adjusted gross incomes to find the combined total. Divide each parent's individual income by the combined total to find their percentage share.
Example: Parent A earns $1,200/week adjusted income. Parent B earns $800/week adjusted income. Combined income equals $2,000/week. Parent A's share is 60% ($1,200 ÷ $2,000). Parent B's share is 40% ($800 ÷ $2,000).
Step 3: Find the Basic Weekly Support Obligation
Using the combined weekly income and the number of children, locate the basic support obligation from the official Indiana Child Support Schedule. The schedule provides specific dollar amounts for combined incomes ranging from $590 to $9,200 per week.
Step 4: Add Healthcare and Childcare Costs
Add the weekly cost of the children's health insurance premiums (paid by either parent) and work-related childcare expenses to the basic obligation. The 2024 guidelines eliminated the former "6% Rule" for uninsured healthcare expenses, so parents now share all uninsured medical costs proportionally based on their income percentages.
Step 5: Apply Parenting Time Credits
If the noncustodial parent has 52 or more overnights per year with the child, apply the parenting time credit to reduce the support obligation. The credit ranges from approximately 6% at 52 overnights to an offset calculation at 182.5 overnights (equal parenting time).
Parenting Time Credits Explained
Indiana applies parenting time credits starting at 52 overnights annually, which equals approximately 14% of the year and represents alternate weekend visitation only. This 52-overnight threshold is one of the lowest in the United States, meaning the credit kicks in earlier than in most states. At 52 overnights, the noncustodial parent receives a modest 5-8% reduction in their support obligation.
Credit Percentage by Overnights
| Annual Overnights | Approximate Credit | Common Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 0-51 | 0% (no credit) | Less than alternate weekends |
| 52-79 | 6% | Alternate weekends only |
| 80-119 | 15-20% | Alternate weekends + holidays |
| 120-142 | 20-30% | Extended alternate weekends |
| 143-181 | 30-45% | Near-equal parenting time |
| 182.5 | Offset calculation | Equal parenting time (50/50) |
When parents share equal parenting time at 182.5 overnights per year, the calculator determines each parent's individual obligation based on their proportionate income share, then offsets the two amounts. The parent with the higher income pays only the difference between the two calculated obligations.
Important Parenting Time Rules
Merely providing a child with a place to sleep to obtain a credit is prohibited under Indiana guidelines. An overnight must include the costs of feeding and transporting the child, attending to schoolwork, and similar responsibilities. The court may decline to apply the credit if doing so would jeopardize a parent's ability to support the children.
Healthcare Costs and Medical Expenses
Indiana's 2024 guidelines substantially changed how parents share healthcare costs by eliminating the former 6% Rule and requiring proportional sharing of all uninsured medical expenses from the first dollar. Under the current guidelines, uninsured healthcare expenses are treated as an add-on to the direct support obligation, similar to health insurance premiums.
Reasonable Health Insurance Standard
Health insurance is considered reasonable if the premium cost is 6% or less of the paying parent's weekly adjusted income. If the premium exceeds 6%, the court may consider alternative coverage options or adjust how the cost is allocated between parents.
Uninsured Medical Expense Requirements
To request reimbursement from the other parent, copies of all documentation relating to insurance claims and expenses must be provided within 30 days of receipt. Expenses paid at the time of service must be submitted within 30 days of receiving the service, or they may become ineligible for contribution. Parents share these costs in proportion to their respective incomes.
Out-of-Network Provider Considerations
Courts now have discretion to disallow claims for contribution when a parent uses out-of-network providers without obtaining preapproval for specific procedures or healthcare providers. Parents should communicate about significant medical decisions to avoid disputes over expense sharing.
When Child Support Ends in Indiana
Under IC 31-16-6-6, Indiana child support automatically terminates when a child reaches age 19, earlier emancipation, or marriage. Support may continue beyond age 19 if the child is incapacitated and unable to support themselves. The court may also order post-secondary educational expenses for children attending college, but this requires a separate petition.
Post-Secondary Education Support
Under IC 31-16-6-2, Indiana courts may order either or both parents to contribute to college expenses including tuition, books, lab fees, course supplies, student activity fees, and room and board when the child lives away from home. The court considers each parent's income and earning ability, the child's aptitude and ability to contribute through work or loans, and available financial aid.
Critical deadline: A parent, guardian, or the child must petition for educational expenses before the child turns 19. If the child support order was issued before July 2012, the deadline extended to age 21, but orders issued after July 2012 require the petition before the child's 19th birthday.
The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled that post-secondary educational expense orders under IC 31-16-6-2 do not include graduate or professional school expenses. Any award is limited to undergraduate education, and the court may cap contributions at the cost of attending an Indiana public university if the child chooses a private or out-of-state institution.
Modifying Indiana Child Support Orders
Under IC 31-16-8-1, parents may request modification of child support orders under two circumstances: a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that makes the current order unreasonable, or when at least 12 months have passed and the current order differs by more than 20% from what the guidelines would produce today.
Support orders do not automatically change when guidelines are updated. Even though Indiana implemented significant guideline changes on January 1, 2024, parents must file a petition and demonstrate eligibility for modification.
Common Grounds for Modification
| Circumstance | Modification Potential |
|---|---|
| Job loss or significant income reduction | High - substantial change |
| Promotion or major income increase | High - 20% rule applies |
| Child's needs increase (special education, medical) | Moderate to High |
| Custody arrangement changes | High - recalculation needed |
| New guidelines produce 20%+ difference | High - after 12 months |
| Incarceration of paying parent | May qualify as substantial change |
Under Indiana law, incarceration may constitute a change in circumstances so substantial and continuing as to make terms of an order unreasonable. Courts do not consider incarceration as voluntary unemployment when determining income for support calculations.
Child Support Enforcement in Indiana
Indiana provides multiple enforcement mechanisms when a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, including automatic income withholding, license suspensions, tax refund interception, bank account seizure, credit reporting, contempt of court proceedings, and criminal prosecution for willful non-payment.
Automatic Income Withholding
Under IC 31-16-6-1, the court must order that child support payments be immediately withheld from the obligated parent's income. Indiana can withhold up to 50% of disposable income if the parent supports a spouse or other children not subject to the order, or up to 60% if they do not have other dependents. Social Security disability benefits can also be garnished for child support.
License Suspension
License suspension becomes possible when a parent falls at least $2,000 behind in child support payments or has not made a payment for three months, whichever comes first. Indiana may suspend driver's licenses, professional licenses, and recreational licenses. A payment plan or partial payment may allow reinstatement.
Contempt and Criminal Penalties
A warrant may be issued if a parent repeatedly fails to pay child support or fails to appear at an enforcement hearing. Willful non-payment may be classified as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the amount owed and duration of default. Interest charges of up to 1.5% per month may be added to delinquent payments under IC 31-16-12-2.
Filing for Child Support in Indiana
To establish a child support order in Indiana, at least one parent must have been an Indiana resident for six months and a resident of the filing county for three months immediately before filing. The divorce filing fee ranges from $157 to $177 depending on the county, with Marion County (Indianapolis) and Clark County charging $177.
Required Documents
Parents should gather income documentation including recent pay stubs (at least 4-6 weeks), tax returns for the past two years, documentation of other income sources, health insurance premium costs, and work-related childcare expenses before completing the Child Support Obligation Worksheet.
Fee Waiver Eligibility
Indiana allows filing fee waivers for parties with household income at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines. For 2026, this means approximately $19,000 annual income for a single person or $26,000 for a two-person household. File a Verified Motion for Fee Waiver with supporting documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is child support in Indiana for one child?
Indiana child support for one child depends on both parents' combined weekly income. At $700/week combined income, the basic obligation is $227/week. At $1,190/week combined income, the obligation increases to $312/week. At $1,800/week combined income, the amount is approximately $312/week. The noncustodial parent pays their percentage share of this total based on their proportion of combined income.
What percentage of income goes to child support in Indiana?
Indiana does not use a flat percentage like some states. Instead, the Income Shares Model applies specific dollar amounts from the support schedule based on combined parental income. For incomes exceeding $9,200/week, percentages apply: 11.4% for two children, for example. The actual percentage a parent pays ranges from approximately 15-25% of gross income depending on circumstances.
Can Indiana child support be modified if I lose my job?
Job loss can constitute a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that justifies modification under IC 31-16-8-1. File a petition to modify as soon as possible after involuntary job loss. Continue making payments at the current ordered amount until the court issues a modified order, as arrearages continue accruing during the modification process.
Does Indiana child support cover college expenses?
Indiana courts may order parents to contribute to undergraduate college expenses under IC 31-16-6-2, but this requires a separate petition filed before the child turns 19. Covered expenses include tuition, books, lab fees, and room and board when the child lives away from home. Graduate and professional school expenses are not covered under Indiana law.
How does 50/50 custody affect child support in Indiana?
When parents share equal parenting time at 182.5 overnights per year each, Indiana applies an offset calculation rather than the standard formula. Each parent's obligation is calculated based on their proportionate income share, then offset against each other. The parent with higher income pays only the difference between the two calculated amounts.
What happens if my ex doesn't pay child support in Indiana?
Indiana enforces non-payment through income withholding (up to 60% of disposable income), driver's license suspension at $2,000 arrears or 3 months non-payment, professional license suspension, tax refund interception, bank account seizure, credit reporting, contempt of court proceedings, and potential criminal charges for willful non-payment.
How long do I pay child support in Indiana?
Indiana child support continues until the child reaches age 19, marries, becomes emancipated, or dies. Support may extend beyond 19 if the child is incapacitated. Educational support for college may be ordered separately. The obligation to pay arrearages never terminates even after the support duty ends under IC 31-16-12.
Can child support be taken from unemployment benefits in Indiana?
Yes, Indiana can withhold child support from unemployment compensation benefits. Income withholding orders apply to unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, Social Security benefits, pension payments, and most other income sources. The same 50-60% maximum garnishment limits apply.
How do I calculate Indiana child support myself?
Use the official Indiana Judicial Branch Child Support Calculator at in.gov/courts/services/child-support-calculator. Enter both parents' weekly gross incomes, number of children, health insurance costs, childcare expenses, and parenting time schedules. The calculator generates a court-ready Child Support Obligation Worksheet accepted by all 92 Indiana counties.
Does Indiana consider bonus income for child support?
Yes, bonuses, commissions, and all other forms of compensation are included in gross income for child support calculations. If bonus income varies significantly year to year, courts may average the past two or three years of bonus income to establish a representative figure for the support calculation.